News Briefs

Q-Patrol Renewed

On his deathbed as he scanned the room for the final time, Oscar Wilde, always armed with the appropriate quip, whispered, "Either that wallpaper goes, or I do." Well, Q-Patrol has gotten new wallpaper.

As close to death as our all-volunteer 501(c)3 organization ever wants to get, we have been resuscitated by a magnanimous gesture of support from Charles Armstrong, owner of J.R.’s, Montrose Mining Co., and South Beach. His financial gift will cover our entire operating budget for the next 12 months, which includes airtime for our two-way radios (the lifeline to each patrol on duty and our most expensive outlay of cash), monthly rent for our home base at the Lesbian & Gay Community Center, and telephone expenses.

But we’re not on easy street, either. We still need you to help us patrol. Our membership is way down. Recently we’ve begun our Co-Op COP program (Cooperative Community Organizational Partnership), where we invite GLBT nonprofits to join us on patrol Friday or Saturday night. This augments our "patrol units" each night–the greater number of groups on patrol, the greater visibility; the more we’re seen, the greater chance for safer streets. Also, having another organization join us for the evening allows us to run an information table where we can both raise funds and recruit new volunteers.

For even more visibility and efficiency, Q-Patrol desperately wants to reinstate its bike and skate patrols, but these require more members than we presently have. We used to have patrols of 20 people or more on a weekend night. Currently, for an evening’s vigil, we’re lucky if we get one "foot" (ideally, four people) and one "mobile" (two in a car).

For all of you in the community who have supported Q-Patrol in the past, we are deeply appreciative. Your donations kept us alive for 10 years. Mr. Armstrong’s amazing beneficence has seen to it that we continue into the future.

But we still need you. All we ask is one night a month. No special training is required. Our visibility as we walk the Montrose bar area and patrol the "far bars" (BRB, E/J’s, Meteor, Venture-N) has dramatically reduced bashings and harassment.

Q-Patrol is here because Paul Broussard isn’t. No group can eradicate hate crime; but if someone out to do evil decides not to because they see us on patrol, then perhaps you won’t be the next Paul.

Please join us. For more information, call 713/528-SAFE, or e-mail qp_callouts@hotmail.com. Oh, and by the way, Mr. Armstrong? We love you. –D.L. Groover

In addition to writing cover stories for OutSmart, D.L.Groover has helped Q-Patrol keep the streets of Montrose safe for four years, and currently serves as treasurer.

A Lamp of a DIFFA-rent Color

"Turn One On For DIFFA," set for April 11 in the Crystal Ballroom at the Rice Hotel, promises to illuminate DIFFA’s important mission. DIFFA is the oldest provider for funds in the fight against HIV and AIDS in the United States. In the Houston area alone, DIFFA granted more than $2.7 million since the local chapter began in 1987.

Honoring printer Marion E. Coleman and artist Kermit Eisenhut, DIFFA’s 2002 event brings together artists and supporters from every area of fine design and art to raise money for the fight against AIDS. And they do it with the style and flair we expect from this creative community. This year, artists will create lamps and lampshades to shed light upon the fact that the fight against AIDS is an ongoing battle. Contrary to some public opinion, the battle against AIDS and HIV rages on across the globe–and right here in Houston.

Some of the artists and designers creating fantastical lamps include Salli Babbitt, Barry Brinker, Troy Broussard, Lonnie Duff, Kermit Eisenhut, Dan Fischer, Michael Gilbert, Brandon Guzman, Johnny Hooks, Lewis and Maese, the fabulous Lypsinka, Michael Morton of m Architects, Kevin Munsterman, Bob Pahlka, Pearson English Architectural Design, Inc., and the very glamorous Vanessa Riley of London (and Houston, too). In addition, the Houston Grand Opera, Stages, and the Alley are donating thematic lamps. The auction of the lamps will highlight an evening of elegance and beauty, and, best of all, caring and committed people will join together in the spirit of the community as we continue to fight AIDS and HIV.

In other news, DIFFA announced the dispersal of $50,500 in grants to eight AIDS organizations: Casa de Esperanza, Center for AIDS, Christian Community Service Center, Covenant House Texas, Families Under Urban and Social Attack, H.A.T.C.H., the Life Center, and the Texas Human Rights Foundation. DIFFA’s grant-making tradition has been to support start-up or emerging programs and ideas that reflect a unique or innovative approach to a problem and those where funds can be positioned to expand and diversify the funding efforts of an organization.

Tickets for "Turn One On" are $75. To purchase, or for more information, call Rodney Honerkamp at 713/528-0505. –Wade Wilson

S’Wonderful, S’Warwick, Chorus Gala

The newly re-fabulous-ized Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston is throwing its annual gala May 3 at the Warwick Hotel. Billed as an "elegant and prestigious event," the Silent Moon fundraiser will feature internationally acclaimed cabaret singer and actress Deborah Boily. After spending four years performing in cafes and cabarets in Paris and London, she returned to Houston and was recognized with the Houston Press’s "Best Comeback" award. Ernie Manouse will serve as master of ceremonies.

These are exciting times at the chorus. Since the ambitious and talented James Knapp became director at the beginning of this season, the GMCH has more than doubled in size, with 80 singing members and 40 support members, and they have been selling out their concerts.

Silent Moon opens with cocktails and a silent auction at 6:30 p.m., a seated dinner at 8 p.m., and the show at 9. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at the GMCH website (www.gmch.org/special/silentmoon), by calling 713/521-SING (7464), or 800/494-TIXS.

Kansas Rules Against TG Marriage

The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that the marriage of J’Noel Gardiner to her late husband Marshall Gardiner was invalid, according to Vanessa Edwards Foster of the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition. Chief Justice Donald Allegrucci wrote that despite undergoing all the medical and psychological procedures associated with being a transsexual, "J’Noel remains a transsexual, and a male for purposes of marriage under Kansas law. A post-operative male-to-female transsexual does not fit the common definition of a female." He further determined that Kansas marriage can exist only "between a biological man and a biological woman."

J’Noel Gardiner had sex reassignment surgery in the early '90s, and changed all of her legal identification to female. Although her husband, Marshall Gardiner, knew of her history prior to their 1998 marriage, after his death, his son challenged J’Noel Gardiner’s claim to her share of the estate under Kansas law as Marshall’s wife.

"The decision appears rooted in biblical philosophy," Foster said. "This began as a perfectly legal union. It says a lot when any marriage can be suspect, closely scrutinized, and rendered void solely at the discretion of the court. So much for the institution of marriage. . . ."

The case is reminiscent of the 1999 case in which a San Antonio court found the marriage of Christie Lee Littleton null and void because Littleton was transgendered. Following the ruling, Littleton’s lawyer, Phyllis Frye, made lemonade out of lemons and declared that the ruling meant that the courts had sanctioned gay marriages–at least when one of the same-sex partners is transgendered.

Along the same lines, Frye starts off her reaction to the Kansas decision, "Today [March 15], the state of Kansas joins the growing list of states that have approved legalized same-sex marriage." She urges eligible gay couples to head to Kansas and get married–with as much media attention as possible–as a mechanism for bringing attention to bear on the backward ruling.

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